Hungry Heart: Part One (Hungry Heart #1) (7 page)

“How does one go from law school to opening a club? Wait. Let’s amend that to
three
clubs.”

“It started with one and I simply fulfilled a desire students had in this area for a club that wasn’t run down. One which was open more than closed at that. And now it’s your turn.”

“Hey, I already knew half that. Not fair.”

He laughs, waiting until I give in with a sigh, resting my head in the crook of his arm.

“I’m not that interesting. I’m an only child. My parents met when they were both thirty, got married two years later, and I was born ten months after the wedding. They were well off and gave me everything I ever wanted and needed. Now they spend most of their time traveling since I moved in with Nathan and I see them about twice a year in person. The rest of the time they video chat me from wherever they’re at, and my conversations with my dad are short while my mom reminds me every time we talk that I need to live a little and there’s no need to rush into anything with anyone. Even though I’m not engaged or anything, she says living with him when I can afford to live on my own doesn’t make sense at my age. And of course, I’m still in college after graduating high school at the top of my class.”

“What’s your major anyway?”

My lips curve up as he kisses the top of my head. “Business Management. Next semester is my last meaning I’ll graduate in three years instead of four, like you.”

“And what will you do after that?”

“I don’t know honestly. I’ve no student debt thanks to my full scholarship. And no other debts either. I can do whatever I want, and I know I’m lucky to be able to even have that option thanks to my parents, so I feel ridiculous not knowing where I’m going from here.”

“You’ll figure it out. You’re twenty-one with your whole life ahead of you.”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s what my dad says. He’s the laid back one and says if I’m gonna do something, make sure first and then do it right like he did. No need to make dumb mistakes even if I can afford to.”

“Agreed.”

Silence falls between us but it doesn’t last long as I ask something I’ve been dying to since Destiny’s comments the other day. “So, you introduced Ethan to your girlfriend’s boyfriend’s sister?”

“You must’ve met her if you’re asking me that which means you know she’s perfect for him.”

“Yes,” I agree with a laugh, “she honestly is, and he’s already head over heels for her, but you didn’t strike me as the matchmaking type.”

“I’m not but I wanted to get you alone. And it worked.” He pauses, then says, “But that’s not why you asked me that, is it?”

“No.”

He sighs, giving my hand he’s covering with his own a squeeze. “It’s okay, I figured she’d end up saying something eventually. Yes, Len is my best friend, and yes, he’s been in love with Miranda for years.”

“Why’d you do it? You said it’s because she wanted to and you finally gave in, but why? You said you thought you’d have the same great love like your parents do, but…”

“Because I love her, and him. He seems to make her happy in ways I don’t and haven’t in a while.”

There’s something in his voice when he says that, but I’m not sure I should push my luck by asking how long ago the while was. Instead I ask, “Do you think she loves him more? They seem to spend a lot of time together. I haven’t seen you with her all that much.”

Pulling his hand away, he’s quick to move until I’m under him and he’s staring down at me, eyes locked on mine as he’s brutally honest. “Yes, I do, but that’s my fault. Six months before her suggestion that we open the relationship up, she came to me saying she was pregnant.”

My mouth drops open, my eyes widening at the casual way he says this, and he continues with a grimace.

“She caught me off guard. We’d always been so careful, so when she said it, the first thing to come out of my mouth was, ‘but I’m not ready for a child.’ She didn’t even give me a chance to process it before storming off in tears after telling me ‘too bad.’ Didn’t talk to me for weeks and I apologized to her many times following it, telling her I truly was excited. And I was once I’d gotten used to the idea. We might’ve been okay if she hadn’t miscarried at ten weeks. She’s never forgiven me for what I said after that.”

“Oh, Benedict…” My eyes fill with tears at his obvious pain as he glances away. “Is that why you gave into her?”

His gaze returns to mine, his eyes blazing. “Yes. And honestly, if it had to be someone, I’m glad it’s Len. I know he will never hurt her and will protect her as I have.”

Because it echoes what Frank told me at the bar the first night, I raise a brow at this. “Protect her? From what?”

“Herself. But that’s not my business to share. However, no matter what’s between us, I love her, and she’s the type of person that something has to be her decision. So if she wants us to end, she’ll choose it, and she hasn’t.” With a soft kiss on my lips, he asks, “What about you? Why did you agree to an open relationship?”

“Oh. We were open from the beginning after Nathan made it clear that’s the type of person he is. I accepted it because I liked him a lot and wanted to get to know him.”

“You were seventeen. That’s pretty open-minded for someone of that age, isn’t it?”

Shrugging, I wrap my arms around his neck and smile up at him. “Yes. I suppose most girls my age wouldn’t’ve been, but I dunno. I guess I never felt like I owned a person; like they had to be mine and only mine for our love to count as real. I’ve never questioned his love for me because he’s never given me a reason to. And for the first three years of our relationship, we actually were only with each other. Didn’t plan it, was just the way it worked out until he met Rissa.”

“It’s a misconception that an open relationship means people sleep around indiscriminately. I never imagined I’d find myself in one, but I’ve never thought badly of the concept itself.”

“Yes, it is. He only sleeps with me and her. And he was my first.”

Bringing his weight down on me, I wrap my legs around his waist as he returns my smile. “I’m your second? Now
that
I didn’t know.” His eyes practically twinkle as he lifts his body up a bit and slides his hands between my legs. “How’m I doing?”

My response comes in the form of meeting his lips with mine, making it so there’s no more words between us, just touch.

It’s all the answer either of us needs in this moment.

12

I take my last winter final on Thursday morning.

As I’m walking from the campus to my car, a text message from Benedict comes through, bring an instant smile to my face.

“
You coming to see me after you’re done?
”

I love how he’s so eager to spend time with me. He’s had a bit more time to text and talk this week, but we haven’t seen each other since Saturday. He’s promised to cook me a ‘thank fuck the semester is over’ dinner tonight at his place.

“
Yes,
” I reply once inside my car and have shut the door.
“Starting my car now. I’ll be there soon.
”

“
Excellent. I’ll still be in a meeting once you arrive, but wait for me in room 2 in the back. I’ll join you asap.
”

Not bothering to reply, I toss my phone on the passenger seat and once my cars warmed up a bit, I head to see him. Finding a parking place is easier at this time, especially since it’s more of a bar and grub place until seven at night every day, and Frank smiles from behind the bar when he catches sight of me.

“All done for the semester?”

“Yep.” He’s got a glass of soda waiting for me on the bar before I even reach it and I pick it up while returning his smile. “Thanks. I’m just gonna wait for Benedict in room two like he said.”

“My pleasure.”

Turning away as he starts to wipe off the counter, I walk through the door leading to the private for pay area of the club, and down past the employees break area. I’ve only been back here once when Benedict took me into his office the first night, and while it’s not big enough to get lost in, I’m glad I took everything in that time.

Knowing room two is at the end of the hall, I am about to walk past room one when I hear raised voices.

And I stop cold at realizing the female is Miranda.

I should keep walking. I shouldn’t eavesdrop and I know it. But just as I’m about to continue on down the hall, a male voice says, “We have to tell Benedict.”

And like an idiot begging to get caught, those words have me stepping closer to the door to hear better.

“I know, I know. But it’s hard. I love him.”

“I don’t want to share you anymore baby. This has been going on long enough. You know I love him like a brother, but we both know you two aren’t good for each other like you used to be.”

“Len.” Her voice is wobbly and it sounds to me as if she’s been crying. “He did this for me because he loves me. How can I betray him like…like…you know it’s bad enough we started before he even agreed.”

Son of a bitch
. My hand covers my mouth just in time to prevent them from hearing my gasp, and I step back from the door as quietly as I can, feeling sick for Benedict the whole time. I’m still able to hear them though as Len replies and makes everything ten times worse.

“Baby, he doesn’t know that and it doesn’t matter now. But you’re gonna start showing soon and it’s better to tell him before that.” It’s quiet for a moment as my mouth drops open, then as she sobs, he says, “Come here. Don’t cry. It’ll be okay.”

I don’t know why I continue to stand there, but all I can think is what assholes these two are. My relationship with Benedict might be new and we’re more in lust with each other at this point than anything, but I already care about him. Through our talks and the time we’ve spent together, it’s also clear he’s a good man, and to know these two were messing around behind his back has my stomach roiling in anger.

It’s made worse by the fact I now possess information he deserves to have, but I don’t know if I’m the one who should give it to him. And I’m pissed off at myself for having stopped to listen because I’ve put myself in this position.

Shit hits the fan as my phone rings in my pocket and the door to room one flies open in an instant, the male version of Destiny stepping into the door with a glare at me.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Len’s words are angry, but the look on his face makes it clear he knows I heard everything they said.

Miranda walks up next to him, swiping at her eyes before focusing on me, causing her lip to wobble as tears threaten to fall again. “Oh god, Caroline. It’s not—”

“Don’t waste your breath. It’s clear she heard the whole fucking thing,” Len mutters with an angry wave of his hand in the air before pointing at me. “Get out of here and keep your mouth shut.”

My back straightens with indignation at his audacity. “Excuse me?”

He takes a step toward me, and I take one back, but Miranda stops him with a hand on his chest. “Len, calm down. She won’t say anything, right Caroline?” She keeps her eyes on me and waits for me to agree.

I never get the chance to rip into her like I want to.

“What’s going on here?”

At the sound of Benedict’s voice, I watch as Len steps back into the room and takes Miranda with him, shutting the door behind them. The touch of Benedict’s hand on my shoulder causes me to jump and whirl to face him.

“Caroline?” His eyes fill with concern as he steps real close. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“I am?” A touch of my hand to my cheek shows me, yes, tears are sliding down my cheeks and it’s evident I need to get away from here right now. “I…I gotta go. I’m so sorry.”

Then, before he can stop me, I duck under his arm and dart past him, fleeing the club while hoping a little space will show me what the fuck I’m supposed to do.

And give those two idiots time to come clean before I’m forced to tell Benedict myself.

To Be Continued…

Thanks for reading!

Please don’t forget to leave a review on
Amazon
* to let me know what you think of the story!

And please, if you haven’t already, the best way to stay up to date is to sign up for my bi-monthly newsletter
HERE
. You can choose to receive updates about my Violet Haze stories only, or about my other name,
C.S. Janey
, as well.

*Link is to my Amazon page for easy reference

About The Author

~*~

Violet Haze is a pseudonym of contemporary romance author C.S. Janey who simply desired to keep her erotic romances separate. She is a big fan of romance - writing and reading. The mother of one, she currently spends her days writing, reading, procrastinating, and protecting her son from himself as he pretends he is a superhero.

Luna
, her first erotic romance serial, is complete and available now.

Loving My Angel
and
Hungry Heart
are her newest erotic romances serials.

Refuge
is a novella,
may be read as a standalone, and is only 99 cents.

Find all of Violet’s books
HERE
on Amazon US.

She hopes you enjoy the glimpse into the naughtier parts of her mind.

Feel free to contact her through the below links!

Website

Fan group:
FACEBOOK

Fan community:
Google+

TWITTER

GOODREADS

Also, if you enjoy this, perhaps you’d enjoy my contemporary romances under C.S. Janey, titled
Surrender To You, Sugar Baby Lies,
and
Love Renewed
.

Thanks again for reading!